Page 8 of Wounded Fox
If looks could kill, the one I was currently giving him would set his body on fire. "No one asked for your opinion."
Ryan—who was clearly uncomfortable with the confrontation—grumbled that he would be right back before hightailing his ass back out the front door.
"Why are you being so stubborn?" Aaron sighed.
"I'm not the one being stubborn." I pointed at myself. "I said I was fine and I meant it. If I thought for a second I needed the medical attention, I would say something."
Aaron looked at me like he didn't believe me, and maybe that was smart of him. I couldn't say with certainty if I would seek help in that moment.
Ryan came back seconds later and shoved a clipboard at me. Without even looking at the paper, I scribbled my signature where Ryan indicated.
I could tell by the shake of his head that the young man didn't agree with how I was handling things, but like the smart man he was proving to be, he kept his mouth shut.
Aaron was kind enough to wait until we were alone before he started in on me. "Do you believe me now?"
For obvious reasons I wanted to say no, but it was clear there was a threat that needed to be taken seriously. That didn't stopme from arguing though. "How do I know they weren't after you and not me?"
He let out a frustrated sigh as if he was tired of this argument.
Well, too damn bad. I wasn't the same naive girl I used to be.
"Does it really matter at this point? Anyone with a set of eyes can see that hurting you would hurt me."
I scoffed at the notion. "So basicallyyouput me in danger." I immediately regretted the statement as soon as it came out of my mouth, and when I saw Aaron's face fall, the guilt only further ate at me.
"Yes, and for that I'm sorry." He looked me square in the eyes. "Please let me make it right by protecting you now."
I chewed on the side of my mouth for a couple of seconds. I already knew I was going to cave but that didn't mean I enjoyed telling him he was right. "Fine, but we stay at my place."
I was going to need home field advantage if I was going to survive being this close to the man who once owned my heart.
"That's fine as long as you have a guest room." Aaron stretched out his back. "Not sure I could survive on a couch in my old age."
Aaron was aiming for humor but it fell flat. One, because it was obvious he kept in shape. Even I could see that under his Henley and jeans. And two, because I didnotin fact have a spare bedroom.
"Uh . . ." was all I could manage to say to that.
He looked at me like he knew exactly what I was thinking and the asshole probably did. He never had any issue reading my mind.
"My place has a spare bedroom," Aaron said in a soft voice.
Closing my eyes, I pinched the bridge of my nose. It was a good thing we were still sitting on the floor, otherwise I wasn'tsure my legs would be able to hold me up with all the emotions swirling through me.
"Okay," I finally relented. "Your place it is, but I need to stop at mine and pack a bag."
I opened my eyes and found the sweetest upturn of Aaron's lips. It was the same look he used to give me when we were younger and he got his way.
I knew in that moment that I was screwed.
CHAPTER FIVE
Aaron
This wasn't how I imagined Valerie seeing my house for the first time, and yes, I pictured this moment several times. Some days I envisioned us as the friends we were before I left for the Marines, sitting on my couch talking for hours. Other times I hoped for something more intimate. I would even go as far as daydreaming about us crashing through the front door in the heat of the moment. If it were up to me, the latter would be what actually happened.
Instead, I opened the front door and motioned for Valerie to walk in ahead of me. I kept my mouth shut and let her take it all in. I purposely stayed a few steps behind her as she moved from one room to another on the first floor.
"It's different from what I expected," she finally said after making her way back to the front entryway.
